Sense of Well-Being in Patients with Fibromyalgia: Aerobic Exercise Program in a Mature Forest-A Pilot Study.

Background and Objective. Most patients with fibromyalgia benefit from different forms of physical exercise. Studies show that exercise can help restore the body's neurochemical balance and that it triggers a positive emotional state.

Dependence scale for Alzheimer's disease: relationship with other clinical indicators and psychometric properties.

The objective of this cross-sectional and multicenter study was to evaluate the psychometric properties of the Spanish version of the Dependence Scale (DS) and to assess the relationship between dependence and clinical measures according to disease severity. Medical comorbidities, cognitive status and functional status, behavior, dependence, caregiver burden, and medical and social resources were assessed using standardized instruments. The sample consisted of 343 patients (32.

Dopaminergic dysregulation, artistic expressiveness, and Parkinson's disease.

Background: The most frequent behavioral manifestations in Parkinson's disease (PD) are attributed to the dopaminergic dysregulation syndrome (DDS), which is considered to be secondary to the iatrogenic effects of the drugs that replace dopamine. Over the past few years some cases of patients improving their creative abilities after starting treatment with dopaminergic pharmaceuticals have been reported. These effects have not been clearly associated to DDS, but a relationship has been pointed out.

[Drug consumption and cognitive function in non-institutionalized elderly: a population-based study].

Background: Drug consumption in the general population is concentrated in the elderly. The aim of this study was to assess the pharmacological profile of elderly people 75 years of age and older, to assess the relationship with the cognitive function and the variables associated with drug consumption.

Methods: This is an epidemiological, cross-sectional, door-to-door study among the non-institutionalised population in a rural area.

[Annual economic cost of informal care in Alzheimer's disease].

Introduction: The indirect cost associated with the care of patients with Alzheimer's disease is taken on primarily by the family.

Aim: To describe the cost associated with time dedication, its annual evolution, associated characteristics and related caregiver burden.

Subjects And Methods: Non-institutionalized patients diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease who are managed on an out-patient basis in a diagnosis unit and their primary caregivers.

[Analysis of the demand for neurological health care generated by primary care in a geographical area within the districts of Girona].

Aim: To perform a descriptive analysis of the outpatient activity in a neurological department in terms of the frequency and type of neurological diseases that were attended.

Patients And Methods: A retrospective and cross-sectional study was conducted involving patients referred to the neurology outpatients department. The cases that visited for the first time during the years 2006 and 2007 were recorded consecutively.

[A longitudinal study of apathy in patients with Alzheimer's disease].

Introduction: Apathy is the most common behavioral symptom in Alzheimer's disease (AD). The aim of this study was to establish the prevalence of apathy in patients with mild AD and at 12 months.

Patients And Methods: Longitudinal study in patients with AD assessed with Cambridge-Cognitive Revised (CAMCOG-R), Disability Assessment in Dementia (DAD) and Neuropsychiatric Inventory (NPI).

[Adaptation and convergent validity of a telephone-based Mini-Mental State Examination].

Background And Objective: To adapt to Spanish and to determine the convergent validity of a Telephone Mini-Mental State Examination (t-MMSE) in order to assess the cognitive functions in Alzheimer's disease (AD) patients.

Patients And Method: Prospective and observational study of a clinical sample consisting of patients with dementia from a memory clinic. Consecutive sampling of participants was used and convergent validity of the t-MMSE and MMSE scores was determined using several statistics measures.

[Factorial distribution of the burden on caregivers of patients with Alzheimer's disease].

Introduction: Care of patients with Alzheimer's disease (AD) is so demanding that it can trigger states of physical, emotional and psychological distress among caregivers. The aims of this study were to determine the factorial structure of the Zarit Burden Scale (BS), to establish the differences among the factors according to the characteristics of patients and caregivers, and to determine the effect of the course of the disease on the factors on the BS over a period of two years.

Subjects And Methods: We conducted a prospective, longitudinal study on non-professional caregivers of patients with AD.

[Telemedicine and dementia: a need for the 21st century].

Introduction: The ongoing process of information and communication technologies in health services implies a change in the conception, organization and management of these services. Telemedicine is a working method that allows health professionals to explore and/or treat a patient from an off-site location. In this review we provide a historical background on telemedicine, the evolution of its bibliometric impact, and its application for people with dementia.

[The feasibility of a registry of dementias: clinical features and diagnostic coverage].

Introduction And Aim: Classic epidemiological studies do not allow to know the dementia patterns of derivation and diagnosis in a defined territory. This information is fundamental for the planning and distribution of the sanitary and social resources to a medium-to-long term. The results of a pilot-registry program for dementia cases based on the population surveillance principles is presented.

[A proposal for a clinical registry of dementias].

Aims: We outline a proposal for the structural and functional features needed to develop a registry of dementias which can be used to collect standardised information that is both reliable and valid concerning cases of dementia in the specialised health care centres within a particular geographical area.

Development: Due to the shortage of information about aspects concerning the impact of dementias on the health care system (in terms of the usage of resources and patterns of detection, referral, diagnosis and treatment in usual clinical practice in primary and secondary care), a sequential implementation of the registry is proposed so that it can be adapted to each health district or region. The first step is to identify the cases and sources of information; second, a system for collecting data must be developed that allows information to be gathered in a standardised manner while at the same time making it possible to work in close collaboration with the specialists who diagnose dementia; and, third, it must be set up with the logistics and staff needed to centralise all the functions and activities of the registry.